UAE Tour Highlights: Dominance and Surprises in Women's Cycling

Feb 10, 2025 at 12:52 AM

The 2025 UAE Tour showcased remarkable performances and strategic brilliance, particularly among the women's cycling contingent. Lorena Wiebes emerged as a dominant force in sprint stages, while Elisa Longo Borghini secured her overall victory with impressive climbing prowess.

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) demonstrated her unmatched sprinting abilities by claiming three out of four stage victories. Her performance was not just about the number of wins but also the ease with which she claimed them. The Dutch cyclist's final stage win was especially noteworthy, as she managed to triumph despite her team's lead-out train falling apart. Wiebes' career now boasts an impressive 96 victories, and she is only 25 years old. Her dominance suggests that she will continue to be a formidable competitor throughout the season.

Elisa Longo Borghini's (UAE Team ADQ) performance on the Jebel Hafeet climb was nothing short of spectacular. With a significant time advantage from the previous day, Longo Borghini could have simply followed the best climbers, but she chose to attack with 3.2 kilometers left. This move not only secured her stage win but also cemented her overall victory. Her teammate Silvia Persico played a crucial role, setting a relentless pace on the climb and finishing second on the stage. Together, they delivered a powerful 1-2 finish for UAE Team ADQ.

The UAE Tour also highlighted several promising performances. Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) finished third on Jebel Hafeet and third overall, marking her best result in a WorldTour stage race. Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco), a newcomer to the WorldTour, showed great potential with a fourth-place finish on the queen stage. However, some riders like Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Ashleigh Moolman did not perform as expected, indicating that there is still room for improvement as the season progresses.

The UAE Tour provided valuable insights into the upcoming cycling season. While it may be too early to predict how top riders will fare in more challenging races, the event has set the stage for what promises to be an exciting year. Lorena Wiebes' dominance in sprints and Elisa Longo Borghini's climbing prowess suggest that these athletes will be key players in future competitions. As the season unfolds, fans can look forward to witnessing more thrilling battles and exceptional performances from these talented cyclists.